Still available on Amazon for Nook and Kindle, hard copy booklett to re-print November 2013

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Wake UP Phoenix...do not pay for grocery bags!

Plastic-bag-Bag”…or “Give it to the Man…bag” pattern for plastic bags made out of plastic bags...re-posted by special request for my friends at the Gilbert Templehttp://writergrams.blogspot.comdo not pay for grocery bags!

Hello Arizona...hey! what is going on here! We moved from California to get away from all the tree hugger green people who plague us with laws and ways to get our hard earned money...(am I wrong or a while ago didn’t they used to try and cajole you to use plastic instead of paper?)I think its fun to go into the store and collect my groceries in bags made out of “their” bags….who needs their stinking bags anyway?And if milk spills in one of my home-made bags you made from "their bags" you can put it in the top part of your dish washer for cleaning (the ones you crochet are quite sturdy), re shape it and use again…tada!Here goes the pattern my fellow rebels

You can use any size hook from g to aJ...the bigger the hook the faster it will go, but the more bags you'll use...First you must save about 80-100 plastic give away bags…Then can cut them into 1 ½ strips…(you don’t need to be neat…start from the bottom of the bag going around.) cut the bottom open and cut off the handles before you start so you have a tube of plastic.Roll them up like yarn….you don’t have to do all at once, if you get tired of cutting, go ahead and crochet for a while.You can get lots of places to give you extra bags, or have the clerk put each item in a separate bag before they charge for bags or the new tax hits. ALSO It is easier to cut the bags into strips if they haven’t been used or all crinkled up!)

Creative tips Get different colors and designs on bags for different effects…some bags are heavier and the strips can be narrower…changing colors can give a stripe pattern…where the bags are tied together you can weave the ends in…put them hanging on the inside…or the outside…(I like that as it looks fluffy)Basic Pattern

Foundation row:chain to 2 inches less than the width of bag you want…anywhere from 12 -25 inches, your bag will be larger than your foundation row.

Bottom:single crochet in second chain from hook.Work to end of row.On end crochet three stitches then single crochet down the other side of chain. (You are going around in a circle…or oblong to be exact) then when you get to the end of the second side of your chain…three single crochet in end and then down the other side with single crochet again, increasing on the end with each row.

Continue crochet around until the bottom is as wide as you want.Usually 3-5 inches wide, (if you want a very wide bag you may end up doing increases at corner stitches so your bottom doesn’t roll up) Body: now once the bottom is done you will continue going around except you will NOT add stitches when you get to the end. The work will begin to grow into a bag shape…you may even have to decrease a stitch or two to get it to travel up into the tube (bag shape you want. When you get the body of the bag as deep as you want it then bind it off…

Patterns: Different colors make stripes or other patterns with the bag colors or print on bags you have. I save the bags they drop your newspaper in as they are pretty colors.

Handles:join yarn at the open end of the bag where you want handle to begin.Chain to make it the length you desire.Then single crochet back and forth to the width you want. (I usually do three to four rows)Each time you are back at the purse top make sure you attach the handle to the body of the bag.When done then slip stitch other end to the corresponding place on the same side of the bag.Repeat.A Very Good Idea

Strength addition:to make sure the handles are strong, do another row of single crochet around both handles joining at the body of the bag as you go around.Using a contrasting color bag ads style, whatever that is?

Decoration can be shreds of different colors around or one side, or add, pockets on the inside or out, I like making flowers (use any flower pattern you have) and sewing with the bag-yarn to the front…are also a nice touch I think.

Have fun! and when people ask about your bags… you can smile and know you are finally ahead of the government passing laws to get you money! TaTA Da DAH!

About Me

I'm a wife of 45 years, mother of 5, grandmother of 16. I've been a writer all my life and began directing plays in the second grade. I've written, and directed numerous community productions many under the name "The Santa Clarita Valley Light Opera Company". While my children were young I set aside many of my interests and now that most have left the nest I can get back to writing. I've finally completed my first novel, and I must say it's almost like giving birth, except it took more than 9 months. I'm now working to have my novel published which I've found is much like casting a play...too tall, too short, not enough experience...HEY how about Life? When my children were still at home I was elected four times to the Governing Board of The Hart High School District of 25,000 students. In 16 years I helped build 5 schools, hired 3 Superintendents and maintained fiscal solvency by working with teachers, parents and created a foundation to acquire building sites. I've taught nursing for 20 years and have been an RN for over 40. I Currently teach Pharmacolocy, and Maternal-Child Health at UCLA Olive View for COC, all the time typing away hoping to be noticed by a publisher.